zachharrod.com

#SurpriseUsin6 – The Long Haul

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guest post by Mike Gorter

I’ve known Zach for nearly 20 years now, and have had the privilege of partnering with him since he first began his ministry in Prague. I’ve seen the numerous twists and turns that he’s experienced on this journey, and through every new season, I’ve gained a renewed awe and appreciation for the sustained passion and commitment that both he and Míša keep for the people of Prague and for living out the Gospel within the rhythms of their everyday lives there.

One of the things I deeply value about Zach and Míša is their conviction and commitment to minister to people for “the long haul.” They have a keen understanding of the crucial place that intentionally loving, serving, and living alongside people OVER TIME has in introducing them to Jesus and the true joy of the Gospel of salvation. In their most recent visit to my hometown of Oshkosh, Zach and Míša took some time to share a few video interviews of men and women from Prague whose lives are being changed by the Gospel, which they encountered while being a part of a Missional Community (MC) with the Harrods. Their MC meets on a weekly basis and emphasizes the value of each community member as a family member, a servant, and a missionary. Together they intentionally nurture a community that actively loves Jesus, each other, and the world around them. It was nothing short of thrilling to listen to these stories unfold—people who were once far from Christ becoming a part of this MC and experiencing a regular expression of love and encouragement as they engaged in purposeful time and service! In God’s perfect timing, they came to a place of heart and life change as they took hold of faith in Christ! What a beautiful, powerful way to come up against the spiritual strongholds that have become so deeply embedded in the Czech Republic over generations!

One doesn’t have to look much farther than his or her own local community to observe the sort of brokenness that surrounds Zach & Míša in Prague. In our own cities and towns, we see shades of it everywhere. People spend hours of time in relative isolation pouring into social media instead of real relationships. The widespread reality of depression is coming into greater focus. The general lack of vulnerability, intimacy, and trust within our own local communities is not so different from what Zach & Míša describe as the norm in Prague. If you cross paths with people often enough, they’ll show glimpses of desire for deeper connection, but many seem to have trouble nurturing it. Time, commitment, and trust are precious commodities in this day and age that aren’t freely distributed. Still, I think that each of us deeply desires genuine, relational community beyond our immediate family—people with whom we can regularly share life over the course of years with brutal honesty, vulnerability, and purpose.

The prospect of living life with people at that level of familiarity is, no doubt, something that many people desperately, but quietly crave, and also find unimaginable. To make that level of commitment with people requires a great deal of trust. And yet trust is gained by committing to spend the time that it takes for trust to grow; it’s almost paradoxical! But when a community is consistently guided by a greater commitment to regularly pursue Jesus, a new dynamic is introduced. The focus is not that the community minister to each person’s needs, but that they go together to Jesus in their neediness to be changed and to help others be changed by living out the Gospel as a community. It’s under that vision that a conversation, a shared meal, a Bible study, or an evening of service can effectively foster intimacy and where a formal commitment becomes simply being willfully and continually present in each other’s lives.

For people whose trust has been abused, trustworthiness needs to be demonstrated over time. I still need to be reminded, at times, that close friends are still “for me”—the real, imperfect me, not a sanitized version of myself. How much more does this need persist for people who find authentic, grace-filled intimacy to be a largely foreign concept! It’s not a battle that can be sufficiently won inside of a 4-week hourlong study; it’s, rather, a mission that can take years to cultivate for seeds of trust to grow. What’s so incredible to me about Zach & Míša’s MC is that their mission intentionally allows for the time that’s needed to actively pursue Jesus together in a way that proves out their own personal commitment to vulnerability, service, and love and asks the same things of their fellow community members. No one disregards the need and brokenness that exists, instead they agree to regularly take that need and brokenness together to the Cross.

The discipleship model of Zach & Míša’s MC also aims to foster new communities when the time is right. Over time, these new communities disciple new people to start living new lives in their MC and ultimately, God willing, in all of life as a redeemed child of God. In light my own desire to see and experience greater discipleship in communities like their Missional Community, hearing Zach & Míša’s stories of how they are effectively nurturing this sort of Christ-centered community in Prague is nothing short of inspiring.

As I continue to support Zach & Míša (& Oliver & Baby Harrod #2), I am continually struck by the thought that, as hungry believers struggle to grow in community, we still have the richness of a personal relationship with Christ to bear us up in the midst of our valleys. The idea of carrying the weight of isolation and the longing for true connection alone, without the firm foundation of being in Christ, is deeply sobering. What Zach and Míša extend to their community is an incredible gift and the light of Life to people with needy souls. Whenever I think of it, I thank God for all He’s been orchestrating in the years that Zach & Míša have been faithfully ministering in Prague by demonstrating the power of the Gospel through living lives of love—closely and consistently—with the people around them. That their faithfulness is bearing fruit all these years later is a testimony to God’s goodness and the place of “time” in His kingdom economy.

As I’m sure Zach & Míša would agree, all of that time spent has been so important and so very worth it. I’m incredibly grateful to be part of this journey for the long haul.

 

#SurpriseUsin6 – “What’s your story?” – Guest post by Mike Jarrell

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Guest post by Mike Jarrell

Zach and Míša Harrod stayed with my wife Jackie and I for a 5 day stretch. It’s not often that my wife tears up and my kids make me promise to ask someone to consider not leaving. We had a wonderful time with this family.

I met the Harrods a few years ago on a trip to Prague, while I was providing some coaching and support for missionaries. Zach and I immediately hit it off outside of the restroom at the place where their church gathers weekly. It became clear that Zach was an authentic guy with a genuine love for others and desire to make a difference for the kingdom of God. The Harrods soon after began a coaching relationship with me. I lead a Collective, CREO, that is committed to multiplication of disciples out of the harvest. In my coaching I have found Zach and Míša to be both MOTIVATED to make a difference in Prague and TEACHABLE (Two critical qualities).

I’ve connected with a number of people who CLAIM to be making disciples and serving their community yet they have no STORIES. Zach and Míša laughed with my family, ate great food, and shared REAL STORIES of people they actually know and love. This makes all the difference to me! This couple is not simply a family that talk the talk, they know real people, shed real tears and share their table with others. I often say that the real test of a missionary isn’t in their ideas and strategies but their STORIES.

Zach loves coaching football and loves the guys he coaches. It is difficult to paint a picture of the life and mission of Jesus if you are not engaged, building real relationships and establishing common bonds with people through something that you mutually share. Because Zach is not an outsider (just a missionary raising support) but an insider (a coach who cares about his players and other coaches). He has credibility as someone who is not just “targeting” someone as his next convert, but someone who has come to build real friendships with people that are not projects but are valued friends. In the context of real friendship with no strings attached, Zach naturally shares the things he is enjoying (including his faith).

Míša has a passion for entering brothels and helping women who are being trafficked and treated as sex slaves. This couple is not distant to the pain and hurt of the city they live in, they have entered the mess and engaged the world with compassion and care like Jesus.

The challenge I want to leave you with is this; Do you have stories, or do you only share theories?

#SurpriseUsin6 – Surprise us with love!

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We are back in the Lake Geneva area for a few more days before heading back, the 6 weeks that have been part of our #SurpriseUsIn6 series, are nearly behind us. The only significant traveling before us comes on Tuesday when we head back to Prague. As Míša shared in an earlier post there have been some downs and some struggles along the way on this trip, but there have been amazingly beautiful moments as well!

When we started this #SurpriseUsIn6 deal, it started with a prayer and hope that God would surprise and he has. Through this trip God has taught us more than we could have expected. We had hoped that God would bring a lot of the pleasant surprises but knew the bitter ones might be there too. When we started these posts, I found Psalm 90:13-14 in the Message paraphrase and it is has been a source of encouragement for us:

“Come back, God – how long do we have to wait? – and treat your servants with kindness for a change. Surprise us with love at daybreak; then we’ll skip and dance all the day long.”

There have been moments of tears, when we were asking, “How long God?” Moments when we were real with him and asked, “Why?” Then there have been sweet moments of love where we have been surprised, which led to a skip and a dance. As we sit days away from returning to Prague we are waiting with anticipation for daybreak and a surprise! Honestly we don’t know what to expect, we don’t know how we will see the needed support raised, we don’t know where we will be Sunday or even if we will have one last chance to share our story of God’s work in our lives and through our lives, but we do know that in the midst of these things that God knows and we can cling to Him.

As I write this I sit in a quiet house, everyone is asleep and while I’m tired and even a bit sorrowful that things might not have gone how we desired, my heart is full, I’m thankful and I’m hopeful that God will show at daybreak tomorrow morning and I know He will be enough no matter if daybreak brings more waiting or more skipping!

 

#SurpriseUsin6 Update – 2 Weeks to go!

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Some have asked us, “Zach & Míša how’s the #SurpriseUsin6 campaign going?” Here’s our update with just two weeks left! Thank you to all of you have blessed along the way, it has been a challenging season, but many of you have encouraged us to trust and keep going. Thank you. If you would like to learn more or help us send us a message or if you would like to give you can find more info on the GIVING PAGE. THANK YOU ALL!

#SurpriseUsIn6 – Why it is so GREAT being in the States to raise support?

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Written by Míša Harrodová

I’m going to be honest with you, raising support is hard. Sometimes, I don’t even want to think about it and pretend it’s not something we gotta do. I don’t want to start worrying when things don’t go the way we had pictured them.

BUT it is also really great. It helps us see the bigger picture and the perspective that we might had lost in the midst of everyday tasks and regular rhythms of ministry. It makes us stop, think, reevaluate and dream. It gives us more opportunities to pray than ever, as we traveling a lot ?. It shows us that we still have ways to go in trusting God completely when we start to worry and don’t know how things will go for us.

It ‘causes’ us meet with our friends – partners – potential supporters and have conversations. During these conversations we remember more and more why it is that we love Czechs and long for them to meet Jesus and to know his deep love. It helps us appreciate every single meeting and opportunity to share because God can stir people’s hearts in ways we don’t understand but can hope for.

We can go back to the people, city, country and continent God has called us to with fresh perspective and zeal that we wouldn’t regain through any other experience.

That’s why we are THANKFUL for support raising. It can get really difficult and sometimes very discouraging but through the support raising process we surprisingly grow to loving the process and the opportunity. ?

We trust God to provide for us and for the mission amongst Czechs that he’s called us to, but if you’d like to become an answer to our prayers for support and an encouragement to us in the midst of one of the most difficult support raising seasons we’ve had yet, please contact us or CLICK HERE. Let’s talk and then start partnering to see God draw Czechs back to Himself!

#SurpriseUsIn6 – Friends through Partnership

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Two words paralyze some people (including us at times) that are interested in being missionaries or serving – SUPPORT RAISING. There have been times I’ve wept as a result of support raising, even during this trip, but there are beautiful aspects of it as well. We’d like to share some of those beautiful aspects with you during this #SurpriseUsIn6 campaign, one of them being friendship through partnership.

See the majority of those who partner with us to make a difference in the Czech Republic didn’t know us before beginning their partnership, but as they join us through financial giving, praying for us and sharing their life with us something develops that’s deeper than partnership (supporter-supported relationship). A friendship develops.

This is why “raising support” is beautiful. We have friends that we never would have had if we did not have to raise support and trust God to provide through people. Recently we had dinner with supporters, who have become friends, and after dinner Míša looked at me and said, “That was beautiful and good for my soul, they don’t merely support us to do work but they love us and are in this with us through our ups and downs and their ups and downs, that is so refreshing!”

“A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.” Proverbs 17:17

Being in ministry in a culture void of faith leads to adversity and so many people have been there for us through so much. What is more beautiful is that through their adversity they have stayed with us and trusted God to continue to provide for them so they can be part of providing for us. One of our friends recently said, “Even though we are expecting baby #2, we won’t change our giving. We believe in you guys and God will provide for us, so that we can continue on.”

Míša and I both were teary-eyed and thanked him, then thanked God. So as we trust God to provide for us again, we aren’t merely looking for supporters but friends to love at all times and through adversity!

Do you want to be part of GOD suprising us in thes last 6 weeks back?  YES!?!?  CLICK HERE!

#SurpriseUsIn6 – You shouldn’t have brought your baby amongst us!

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Written by Míša Harrodová

Every month, our missional community prepares about 100 servings of food and hands them out to those in need at the main train station. Afterwards we stay and talk to people who want to and after 2 years we have friends amongst them. It is a wonderful and rewarding ministry, possibly because we can tangibly provide for one of their physical needs and afterward we can listen to their stories/complaints/other needs and help them not feel invisible or unheard.

When our family grew and Ollie came to this world, God gave us new role of “family on mission”. When it came to serving food to the homeless, of course we had some reservations and slight worries. But we decided to trust God and follow Jesus in His ways of coming to ALL people.

When we showed up with about 3-week old baby amongst them, you should’ve seen the reactions! Most of them amazed we were not afraid to bring Ollie and hand out food having him in a baby carrier, some genuinely worried he’d get sick from them and some of them were upset with us for being “bad” parents, who take their baby amongst well them. As they said themselves, a lot of them were dirty and some sick. It’s not the crowd you’d normally bring a baby to. I have to be honest and admit that when some of the ladies started petting Ollie’s leg or gave him a toy right inside the carrier, I froze and prayed we weren’t just acting stupid!

But God took care of us and Ollie’s healthy and still coming with us, with him being all active it brings new challenges (like used drug injections laying on the grass in the park surrounding the place) but we’re thankful God gave us the courage to start serving as family from the very beginning.

Learn what #SurpriseUsIn6 is by clicking HERE.  If you would like to be part of what we do in the Czech Republic through supporting us click HERE.

Momentum – #SurpriseUsIn6

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MOMENTUM – What comes to your mind when you hear the word MOMENTUM?  

Before you check out what images come to my mind when I think of momentum, share in a word or a picture in the commentary below, I would love to see what came to your mind. As we are in the States working on raising support & developing our team of ministry partners one of our top prayer requests is simple – sustained momentum. As we have shared since being back, I’ve thought a lot about how I would imagine momentum.  

 When I googled “momentum” these were the top images I saw – swinging balls, tables with rising figures & traffic. Beyond those images, rowdy football fans come to my mind, because when a team catches momentum there is almost an electricity in the air, I love that feeling. Beyond the physics definition of momentum, this definition stood out: strength or force gained by motion or by a series of event.  

 

That is perfect!  Even as I typed that, my heart fluttered a bit & began longing for “strength or force gained by motion or by a series of event.” See, our work & lives in Prague consist of something like this, a few events that start to lead to motion being gained & then it happens, almost like clockwork – BOOM – something happens and it is like a punch to the stomach, the momentum is stopped. Then we have to start slow & build up to the point where we feel like something might be happening & then BOOM, momentum is broke again. Then repeat. Living this for 15 years, or maybe longer, of ministry is tough.

Would you pray with us for sustained momentum, SO THAT WE CAN FINALLY SEE BIG THINGS HAPPEN?  This also goes for us, as we are starting this six week campaign – #SurpriseUsin6 – to raise/recoup $3000 of monthly support. Just today we got a message that someone was going to begin supporting us & then almost immediately we got another message that someone was going to stop giving. This is life, isn’t it? That is a part of life, but this is more the norm for us & we are longing for God to change lives in big ways, including our lives, & we would love to not feel like the wheels are spinning. Would you pray for us? Would you help us see God #SurpriseUsin6?

Intro to #SurpriseUsIn6

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Hello all, so we are off to DC for 13 days to connect with friends, National Community Church, & also raise some much needed support. The holidays and the more relaxed part of our trip are behind us and now we have 6 full weeks in front of us. In the past we’ve done campaigns while we’ve been back to raise support, #800in8 & #MonthToFull, and we thought we’d do it again! So for the next 6 weeks Míša and I will be sharing about what we do and our needs in what we are calling #SurpriseUsIn6! First and foremost, it’s a prayer that God will surprise us in the next 6 weeks and provide for all of our needs both financially and in prayer. Also we are praying that people like you would surprise us with generosity because after all generosity warms, melts, opens and changes hearts! So help us live lives of generosity in Prague by being generous to us! More to come stay tuned. HAPPY NEW YEAR!

INTRO to #SurpriseUsIn6 from Zach Harrod on Vimeo.

Help the Harrodovi before 2018 rolls in!

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Št’astný nový rok!  Happy New Year!  It’s a little early but that is okay.  First and foremost, we would love to thank you for being part of our lives and what God has called us to do this past year.  We are very, very thankful!  Thank you.

Recently, I pondered all that happened over the last year and I was moved.  It seems to be a tradition now that people, including me, post their ‘#bestnine’ collage of photos from their most liked Instagram photos.  My #bestnine2017 seems to tell our story of 2017 – family, new life, Oliver, football, smile and a lot of joy.  It was a beautiful reminder of what God has done this year.

In many ways, this year was a year that brought stability and health to our lives as well.  Which is juxtaposed to 2016 that was the opposite, so we are thankful that God brought these things to pass in 2017.  At the moment we are at a conference center, operated by Christians, where we now have the tradition of evaluating the previous year, praying and playing for the year to come and also celebrating the New Year.  Would you pray that God meets us here and guides in this process?

As we look ahead, we have loads of hopes, dreams and prayers for 2018 and beyond.  We feel like we are on the edge of something big that could happen, but it’s just outside of our grasps,  we are hopeful that God will bridge that gap in 2018.  A reality is that to do good things, we need prayers and funding to make those things possible.  Would you first and foremost pray for us, that God would move through people to meet all our needs and beyond?  Secondly, would you consider helping us see those needs met?  Here’s what we are trusting God to help us with as 2017 closes and 2018 rolls in:

  • MONTHLY SUPPORT – we saw our monthly giving take a dip in 2017 and we need to re-raise close to $2000/month.  There are several reasons why this happened, mostly because peoples’ situations have changed.
  • ONE-TIME for our personal ministry – the monthly support is what keeps us going throughout the year, but there are always extra projects and other things happening.  For instance, we are hoping that Zach will travel to the States in February with three of our coaches (Miloš, Jakub, and Lukáš).  We are also in need of upsizing our car, as our car is too small to carry the load of our family needs and ministry needs.  These are two examples of the one-time support we need to raise.  Our hope is to see $10,000 to help towards special projects and needs.
  • ONE-TIME for our junior jerseys – we have been working hard for quite some time to raise funds to help our LIONS junior team have new jerseys.  Thus far a few generous individuals have donated $6,000 towards this, which leaves us needing to raise the last $3000.  If you are willing to help with this, you can give via our non-profit, INTERCEPTION FOUNDATION, that a few of us started a few years back to help us with resources and funding.  (Please shoot me an email if you are interested in helping with this!)

Would you consider helping us see these needs met?  IF SO PLEASE CLICK HERE!

In helping us meet these needs you are freeing us up to do what God has called us to do, so that, Lord-willing, we will see life change in a country that is longing for God’s tough of renewal, forgiveness, mercy, and grace.

Once again, thank you for being part of this ministry and our lives.  Know you are appreciated.  Know you are prayed for.  Know that God is using you here in Czech, even in the small steps our friends are taking towards God each day!  We hope and pray that you and yours have an amazing 2018, that is marked by God’s crazy, radical love and grace!

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